Barfly 12 August 2010
Taste of Hermosa: This fifth annual Kiwanis Club event celebrating the food of Hermosa and the wines of California takes place from 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday August 22 at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, Pier Ave/PCH, HB. The event benefits Hermosa school library programs, which have suffered dramatically due to the state budget crisis. Tickets are just $60 and include all food and wine tastings as well as a live jazz band and silent auction. Call (310) 318-0119 or go to tasteofthebeach.com for more info and to purchase tix and don’t wait: Last year’s event sold out. A mind is a terrible thing to waste and reading is fundamental so eat, drink and save the children…
Have a Late Lunch: I recently checked out the new-ish Lebanese restaurant Open Sesame, Manhattan Village in the space previously occupied by Reed’s Restaurant and felt like I was walking into a different country. It was a nice sunny day, which has been rare this summer, but the atmosphere inside was so appealing both my friend and I chose to stay in rather than go out to the patio. It was Wednesday, half-price wine bottle day and we got there just in time for the start of happy hour, 3-7pm. Monday-Thursday, so our appetizers were half-price as well. Right away I loved the menu because I didn’t know what half the items were; it bugs me when an ethnic place opens up touting itself as “authentic” and then I see chicken Caesar salad on the menu – pick a theme and stick to it. Our server was very knowledgeable, patiently describing the different items in lay terms and making recommendations. In some cases she made decisions for us and even told us how to add condiments to make it even more authentic like the Foul M’Damas, simmered fava and garbanzo beans flavored with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil serve with a side of plate onion, pickles, radish, tomato and fresh mint. She told us the natives douse it with a ton of olive oil, brought us over a bottle and encouraged us to go to town. Since my friend and I both bleed olive oil she didn’t have to tell us twice and soon it was swimming and it was delicious. It also took us ages to eat as it was a large portion and we scooped up every last drop with warm pita. We also tried the Kibbi, extra lean ground beef with sautéed pine nuts, onion and herbs served with wild cucumbers, pickles, tomato, lettuce and yogurt sauce. I’m not going to try and describe it other than to say whatever they marinate the beef in must come from heaven. For the entrée we shared the Lamb Kabob on a bed of basmati rice with hummus and that marinade got us again! At first I was disappointed because we ordered it rare and there was no pink at all when I cut in so the server had the owner explain that it’s the marinade and spices that make it look kinda grey when you cut into it. This sounded reasonable so I went ahead and it melted in my mouth, needing no dips or sauces to enhance the flavor; it was perfect as is and I always feel healthier when I eat meat that is not covered in sauce. We took a good two hours to finish up and even had leftovers to take home. Luckily the kitchen does not close between lunch and dinner like many do so we weren’t rushed even when we were the last people in the place, which by the way, neither of us noticed because we were so wrapped up in the interesting food and our conversation that time and space were a blur around us – talk about living in the moment! If you want to take a break from the South Bay bubble, step into the different world that is Open Sesame. You will not be disappointed. Call 310.545.1600 or check out opensesamegrill.com for more info…
It Only Took 12 Years: Next Tuesday, August 17, Akbar Santa Monica on Wilshire Boulevard and Gourmet Wine Getaways’ international wine expert Peter Kerr present a reception and four-course dinner featuring the wines of Paul Hobbes, of Sebastopol. After studying in France in 1992 I became, I don’t want to say anti-California wine, but drinking French wine just made me happier because it took me back. One of my closest friends from college loves California wine but he would indulge me and drink French when we would go out… most of the time. There was one wine he wouldn’t budge on and if it was on the wine list at whatever resto we happened to be, it was ordered. That wine is from Mr. Paul Hobbes. Now that I am in California and he is in New York, when I drink Paul Hobbes it takes me back to all the good times we had over the years and makes me happy. PH is hard to find in NY but I figured out here it would be all over; not the case. This is actually the first time in 12 years that I am able to promote a Paul Hobbes wine dinner and funny enough, I will be in New York on that date! $99 per person includes tax & grat. Call 310.586.7469 for more info and reservations and check out the full menu at akbarcuisineofindia.com…
Questions? Comments? Contact DebL at BarflyDebLG@aol.com